SCHOOL ZONES:
Omanu Primary, Mt Maunganui Intermediate, Mt Maunganui College.
CONTACT:
Charlotte Gardner and Dirk Merwe, Eves Realty, 07 572 8176 or 021 867 010 (Charlotte) or 07 572 8164 or 021 995 133 (Dirk).
Harry Salisbury means it when he says if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing properly. His Mt Maunganui home is a case in point.
Harry and his wife Errin went all out to build their dream home, and describing it as a luxurious mansion is actually an understatement -- it's on another level altogether.
It has a state-of-the-art kitchen, a cinema room with surround sound, a master bedroom that looks as if it's come straight out of one of the world's top hotels and a wine cellar that holds 2600 bottles.
An automated system allows control of lighting, security, blinds and gas fires from a phone. There are marble floors, bathroom handbasins made of Murano glass from Italy, and a floating staircase with inserts of recycled buffalo hide in the treads.
"We've got two dogs and we thought the American white ash timber on the stairs might be a bit slippery for them," says Harry. "So I imported the buffalo hide from the States to use as inserts. The dogs don't seem to mind travelling up and down the stairs."
Then there's the spa and swimming pool. Keen to be able to enjoy the view of the neighbouring Mt Maunganui Golf Course while in the water, Harry wanted one wall of the spa pool and the top 400mm of the swimming pool to be glass. Achieving that was something of an engineering nightmare, he reveals, but the end result is stunning.
"The engineering guys said we should patent it because there is nothing else like it that we are aware of."
It took more than three years to go from a set of plans and a site next to the golf course and across the beach, to the magnificent dwelling Harry and Errin now call home. Their ideas for the three-level contemporary home came from observing first-class resorts around the world while working in the hospitality trade. Australian Harry was also inspired by luxury residences on the Gold Coast, where he hails from.
Image 1 of 5: First-class hotels around the world inspired this stunning residence at the Mount. Photos / supplied
Harry says: "I come up with the ideas, and my wife irons out the kinks. Somehow, between us, it works out really well."
Peter Whale of Idea Architecture turned their vision into plans, and the Thorne Group builders turned those plans into reality.
"The builders were amazing -- perfection is their game, which is what I was after. I do like things to be done properly."
His exacting standards have resulted in a home that not only looks spectacular inside and out, but is comfortable and practical to live in.
The ground level comprises a drive-through four-car garage, the spacious wine cellar and the triple-height entry atrium, which includes panes of glass that weigh 300kg each.
The next level is mostly devoted to living spaces -- apart from an en suite guest bedroom that Harry and Errin wanted to include in case any of their parents ever needed to live with them. Dual living areas open to a wrap-around deck and a sleek white kitchen that had to be just right for a couple who entertain a lot.
"We often bring chefs in if we're having a party and we needed plenty of space," says Harry. "This kitchen is amazing -- there is plenty of storage and a pantry. It's got two of everything -- two in-wall ovens, two warming drawers, two dishwashers. There's a fridge with a Soda Stream and another two fridges in the pantry."
An outdoor kitchen has facilities including a barbecue and dishwasher is on the deck under a Louvretec roof.
Also on this level is a media room with a 130-inch screen and 3D projector.
The upper level has four bedrooms, including the opulent master suite, which has a Philippe Starck bathtub in the en suite and a huge walk-through wardrobe.
The bedrooms have great views of either the golf course or the ocean and Mt Maunganui.
Harry and Errin have only been in the house for a couple of months, but are selling because they've found a piece of land they love even more than the one in Oceanbeach Rd, and they want to build on it.
"Yes, we are going to do this all again," Harry says. "We've found it very exciting, and we enjoy the process. But this could be the last time."
